All key tournaments that could influence the Budapest Major 2025 qualification race have now concluded. The VRS standings are finalized, and teams can no longer affect their positions. With the cutoff date of October 6, the list of all 32 participants for the final CS2 Major of the year is officially set.
How VRS Changed the Value of Online Matches
One of the defining factors in this cycle has been the way Valve’s ranking system treats online tournaments. The VRS is calculated in two steps: first, a starting value is assigned based on bounty, LAN results, and opponent network; then, an adjustment is applied for each match played. The problem is that every update recalculates old matches based on the team’s new starting value.
For teams that grind dozens of online events, this recalculation becomes a trap. Victories that once boosted their standing begin to count for less after a team climbs higher in the rankings, while defeats are punished more severely. The more matches a team has played in the past, the more points it can lose when the system retroactively adjusts results. This has led to scenarios where endless online grinding not only fails to pay off but actively harms a team’s chances.
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In practice, this means online tournaments contribute very little upward momentum but can strip away dozens of points after each loss. As a result, more and more organizations are shifting their focus to LANs and only entering online qualifiers that directly lead to top-tier championships. The system has effectively devalued online play and punished teams that overcommit to the grind.
Europe
In Europe, the situation at the top unfolded exactly as expected. Vitality, Spirit, Falcons, MOUZ, and G2 maintained their dominance throughout the season and secured direct invitations to Stage 3 of the Budapest Major well ahead of the cutoff.
A little further down the table, Aurora, Natus Vincere, Astralis, 3DMAX, and Liquid comfortably locked in Stage 2 berths. One of the final twists came when FaZe, who had been projected to stay in Stage 2 for weeks, slipped to Stage 1 after 3DMAX outperformed expectations during the final tournaments.
The closing days of the race also produced some surprises. PARIVISION grabbed the last available European spot after defeating BetBoom at a local LAN event in Moscow, while fnatic traveled overseas to the United States, where they triumphed at Fragadelphia Blocktober to clinch their invitation.
Final European lineup:
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Stage 3: Vitality, Spirit, Falcons, MOUZ, G2
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Stage 2: Aurora, Natus Vincere, Astralis, 3DMAX, Liquid
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Stage 1: FaZe, GamerLegion, Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8, PARIVISION, fnatic
Americas
Across the Atlantic, both FURIA and paiN remained unshakable, confirming their Stage 3 positions early.
Stage 2 features a strong mix of names — Legacy, NRG, Passion UA, MIBR, and TYLOO — who stayed consistent across the final months of the circuit.
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The most dramatic developments came in Stage 1, where M80, Imperial, Fluxo, and RED Canids all made the final cut. The latter two earned their tickets to Budapest after standout playoff runs at Circuit X South America Season 1 in Curitiba, Brazil.
Final Americas lineup:
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Stage 3: FURIA, paiN
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Stage 2: Legacy, NRG, Passion UA, MIBR, TYLOO
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Stage 1: Imperial, M80, Fluxo, RED Canids
Asia
Asia was the most stable of all regions, with the qualification picture decided weeks before the October 6 deadline.
The MongolZ will once again carry the flag for Asia from Stage 3, TYLOO secured Stage 2, while Lynn Vision lead the region’s contingent in Stage 1. Other names such as FlyQuest, The Huns, and Rare Atom remain listed in Stage 1 but had no remaining events to change their standing.
Final Asia lineup:
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Stage 3: The MongolZ
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Stage 2: TYLOO
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Stage 1: Lynn Vision, The Huns, FlyQuest, Rare Atom
All 32 teams qualified for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
Stage 3
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Vitality
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Spirit
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Falcons
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MOUZ
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G2
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FURIA
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paiN
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The MongolZ
Stage 2
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Aurora
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Natus Vincere
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Astralis
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3DMAX
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Liquid
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MIBR
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Passion UA
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TYLOO
Stage 1
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FaZe
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GamerLegion
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Ninjas in Pyjamas
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B8
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PARIVISION
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fnatic
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Legacy
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Imperial
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NRG
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M80
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Fluxo
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RED Canids
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Lynn Vision
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The Huns
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FlyQuest
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Rare Atom
Final Thoughts
The qualification journey has come to an end — the stage is set for Budapest. Now, the 32 strongest teams in the world will face each other for the ultimate CS2 title and the final Major trophy of 2025.
For some, this Major was always a given — for others, it’s a story of pure perseverance. None embody that more than fnatic, who pulled off one of the most improbable runs of the year. Traveling overseas and winning a regional LAN to secure their final VRS points, the team defied the odds — their qualification was a one-in-a-thousand scenario that turned into reality.
